Patents by Inventor Spencer Allen Gilliam

Spencer Allen Gilliam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11655309
    Abstract: A shaped article comprising a polymer-based resin derived from cellulose, wherein the polymer-based resin has an HDT of at least 95° C., a bio-derived content of at least 20 wt %, a notched izod impact strength of greater than 80 J/m and at least one of the following properties chosen from: flexural modulus of greater than 1900 MPa; a spiral flow length or at least 3.0 cm; a flex creep deflection of less than 12 mm; a transmission of at least 70%; a ?E value of less than 25; or an L* color of at least 85.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wenlai Feng, Haining An, Michael Eugene Donelson, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Robert Ellis McCrary, Douglas Weldon Carico, Spencer Allen Gilliam
  • Patent number: 10919984
    Abstract: An injection molded article comprising a thin-walled body portion formed from a polymer-based resin derived from cellulose, wherein the thin-walled body portion comprises: i. a gate position; ii. a last fill position; iii. a flow length to wall thickness ratio greater than or equal to 100, wherein the flow length is measured from the gate position to the last fill position; and iv. a wall thickness less than or equal to about 2 mm; and wherein the polymer-based resin has an HDT or at least 95° C., a bio-derived content of at least 20 wt %, and a spiral flow length of at least 3.0 cm, when the polymer-based resin is molded with a spiral flow mold with the conditions of a barrel temperature of 238° C., a melt temperature of 246° C., a molding pressure of 13.8 MPa, a mold thickness of 0.8 mm, and a mold width of 12.7 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wenlai Feng, Haining An, Michael Eugene Donelson, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Robert Ellis McCrary, Douglas Weldon Carico, Spencer Allen Gilliam
  • Publication number: 20190359793
    Abstract: An injection molded article comprising a thin-walled body portion formed from a polymer-based resin derived from cellulose, wherein the thin-walled body portion comprises: i. a gate position; ii. a last fill position; iii. a flow length to wall thickness ratio greater than or equal to 100, wherein the flow length is measured from the gate position to the last fill position; and iv. a wall thickness less than or equal to about 2 mm; and wherein the polymer-based resin has an HDT or at least 95° C., a bio-derived content of at least 20 wt %, and a spiral flow length of at least 3.0 cm, when the polymer-based resin is molded with a spiral flow mold with the conditions of a barrel temperature of 238° C., a melt temperature of 246° C., a molding pressure of 13.8 MPa, a mold thickness of 0.8 mm, and a mold width of 12.7 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wenlai Feng, Haining An, Michael Eugene Donelson, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Robert Ellis McCrary, Douglas Weldon Carico, Spencer Allen Gilliam
  • Publication number: 20190345313
    Abstract: A shaped article comprising a polymer-based resin derived from cellulose, wherein the polymer-based resin has an HDT of at least 95° C., a bio-derived content of at least 20 wt %, a notched izod impact strength of greater than 80 J/m and at least one of the following properties chosen from: flexural modulus of greater than 1900 MPa; a spiral flow length or at least 3.0 cm; a flex creep deflection of less than 12 mm; a transmission of at least 70%; a ?E value of less than 25; or an L* color of at least 85.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wenlai Feng, Haining An, Michael Eugene Donelson, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Robert Ellis McCrary, Douglas Weldon Carico, Spencer Allen Gilliam
  • Patent number: 8980389
    Abstract: Described as one aspect of the invention are extrusion blow molded articles comprising at least one polyester which comprises: (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising: (i) about 90 to about 100 mole % of terephthalic acid residues; (ii) about 0 to about 10 mole % of aromatic and/or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 20 carbon atoms; and (b) a glycol component comprising: (i) about 42 to about 60 mole % ethylene glycol residues; and (ii) about 40 to about 58 mole % residues of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol; wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component is 100 mole %, and wherein the total mole % of the glycol component is 100 mole %; and wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyester is from 0.50 to 1.0 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.25 g/50 ml at 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Ignacio Garcia
  • Patent number: 8604139
    Abstract: Extrusion profile articles comprising a polyester having a dicarboxylic acid component and a glycol component. The dicarboxlyic acid component comprises at least 90 mole % terephthalic acid residues. The glycol component comprises at least 75 mole % ethylene glycol residues and 15 to 25 mole % residues of a difunctional glycol such as, for example, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol. Such extrusion profile articles can exhibit reduced haze, reduced sharkskin, and/or increased compatibility in PET recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Ignacio Garcia, Alan Keith Phillips, Robert Ellis McCrary, Mark Allan Treece, Daniel Christopher Cobb, Harold Eugene Dobbs
  • Patent number: 8604138
    Abstract: Extrusion blow molded (EBM) articles comprising a polyester having a dicarboxylic acid component and a glycol component. The dicarboxylic acid component comprises at least 90 mole % terephthalic acid residues. The glycol component comprises at least 75 mole % ethylene glycol residues and 15 to 25 mole % residues of a difunctional glycol such as, for example, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol. Such EBM articles can exhibit reduced haze, reduced sharkskin, and/or increased compatibility in PET recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Ignacio Garcia, Alan Keith Phillips, Robert Ellis McCrary, Mark Allan Treece, Daniel Christopher Cobb, Harold Eugene Dobbs
  • Patent number: 8501292
    Abstract: The invention is generally directed to baby bottles and other articles produced by blow molding from polymeric materials having glass transition temperatures ranging from 100° C. to 130° C., as well as to processes for producing them. These articles can be exposed to boiling water and can be produced by using a suitable combination of a stretch ratio of less than 3 and a preform temperature at least 20° C. greater than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Alan Keith Phillips
  • Patent number: 8501287
    Abstract: The invention is generally directed to baby bottles and other articles produced by blow molding from polymeric materials having glass transition temperatures ranging from 100° C. to 130° C., as well as to processes for producing them. These articles can be exposed to boiling water and can be produced by using a suitable combination of a stretch ratio of less than 3 and a preform temperature at least 20° C. greater than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Alan Keith Phillips, Robert Ellis McCrary
  • Publication number: 20120328815
    Abstract: The invention is generally directed to baby bottles and other articles produced by blow molding from polymeric materials having glass transition temperatures ranging from 100° C. to 130° C., as well as to processes for producing them. These articles can be exposed to boiling water and can be produced by using a suitable combination of a stretch ratio of less than 3 and a preform temperature at least 20° C. greater than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Alan Keith Phillips
  • Patent number: 8304499
    Abstract: Disclosed are polymer compositions having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. The blends of the present invention are useful in producing shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce oxygen-scavenging compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Martin Emerson Rogers, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Michael Duane Cliffton, Mark Edward Stewart
  • Patent number: 8287970
    Abstract: The invention is generally directed to baby bottles and other articles produced by blow molding from polymeric materials having glass transition temperatures ranging from 100° C. to 130° C., as well as to processes for producing them. These articles can be exposed to boiling water and can be produced by using a suitable combination of a stretch ratio of less than 3 and a preform temperature at least 20° C. greater than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Alan Keith Phillips
  • Patent number: 8133417
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles, having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enables the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce shaped articles having oxygen-scavenging properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Marcus David Shelby, Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Martin Emerson Rogers, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Michael Duane Cliffton, Mark Edward Stewart
  • Publication number: 20110200774
    Abstract: Disclosed are polymer compositions having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. The blends of the present invention are useful in producing shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce oxygen-scavenging compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Marcus David Shelby, Martin Emerson Rogers, Michael Duane Cliffton, Mark Edward Stewart
  • Publication number: 20110201703
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles, having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enables the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce shaped articles having oxygen-scavenging properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Mark Edward Stewart, Martin Emerson Rogers, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Michael Duane Cliffton, Marcus David Shelby
  • Patent number: 7968164
    Abstract: Disclosed are polymer compositions having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. The blends of the present invention are useful in producing shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce oxygen-scavenging compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Marcus David Shelby
  • Patent number: 7964258
    Abstract: Disclosed are oxygen-scavenging polymer compositions having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides, and a metal catalyst. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. The blends of the present invention are useful in producing shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Mark Edward Stewart, Martin Emerson Rogers, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Michael Duane Cliffton, Marcus David Shelby
  • Patent number: 7959836
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles, having high transparency and low haze, and comprising immiscible blends of at least one polyester comprising 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce shaped articles having oxygen-scavenging properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Mark Edward Stewart, Martin Emerson Rogers, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Michael Duane Cliffton, Emmett Dudley Crawford, David Scott Porter, Gary Wayne Connell, Marcus David Shelby
  • Patent number: 7959998
    Abstract: Disclosed are oxygen-scavenging polymer compositions having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of at least one polyester comprising 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides, and a metal catalyst. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. The blends of the present invention are useful in producing shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Mark Edward Stewart, Martin Emerson Rogers, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Michael Duane Cliffton, Emmett Dudley Crawford, David Scott Porter, Gary Wayne Connell, Marcus David Shelby
  • Patent number: 7955533
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles, having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of one or more thermoplastic polymers selected from polyesters, polycarbonates, and polyarylates, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend which have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about ?0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce shaped articles having oxygen-scavenging properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Wesley Raymond Hale, Thomas Joseph Pecorini, Mark Edward Stewart, Martin Emerson Rogers, Spencer Allen Gilliam, Michael Duane Cliffton, Marcus David Shelby